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Airplay icon missing on MBP

I have a 15" retina macbook pro and a 3-gen appletv, the home sharing, airplay mirroring fuction works fine until I recently switched to another high-speed internet (another router).


The airplay icon now only appear on my mbp after I reboot either router or appletv, but it will soon disappear a few minutes later. The weird part is, if I mirror my mbp to the appletv when the airplay icon appear, the function will continue even later on the airplay icon disappear (meaning mbp is still mirroring to appletv but the icon is gone). Furthermore, my iphone remote app can't detect either itunes or appletv at this point.


Before you guys start asking me back questions:

1. Reset & restore appletv did not help

2. All my devices filmware are up-to-date

3. Troubleshooting doesn't help a single bit

4. I had set IPv6 off, but it did not help either

5. I've done the port forward thingy on my router

6. Yes I had connected all my devices to the same network

7. I had tried to disable-enable home sharing, airplay but still no luck

8. Reboot router only work for mostly 20 mins and the airplay icon will disappear again

9. Using ethernet cable is not an option here, however the wifi signal is strong for both appletv & mbp


Basically I am frustrated and helpless with the problem after tried out all the solution I can find on google. The only problem I can think of is the router, because the problem doesn't occur with the old internet (old router). Can you guys please help me out? Do I really need to invest in one of the apple router?

MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012), Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Jan 1, 2013 7:09 PM

Reply
10 replies

Jan 1, 2013 7:43 PM in response to Advenight

What port forwarding thing, there is no need to forward any ports.


Intermittent problems are often a result of interference. Interference can be caused by other networks in the neighbourhood or from household electrical items.

You can download and install iStumbler (NetStumbler for windows users) to help you see which channels are used by neighbouring networks so that you can avoid them, but iStumbler will not see household items.

Refer to your router manual for instructions on changing your wifi channel or adjusting your multicast rate.

There are other types of problems that can affect networks, but this is by far the most common, hence worth mentioning first. Networks that have inherent issues can be seen to work differently with different versions of the same software. You might also try moving the Apple TV away from other electrical equipment.

Jan 2, 2013 3:09 AM in response to Winston Churchill

Hello Winston Churchill


This has been your finest hour! Thank you.


For two days after Christmas the apple tv, samsung, macbook pro, and iPad were all blissfully synced, then the AirPlay Mirrorring stopped detecting devices and no more apple tv. I spent the best part of the last three days eliminating causes, and shutting everthing down and starting again. Then I found your suggestion to download iStumbler, which identified the interference from neighbourhood wifi on same channel. Next, I went to router website and followed prompts to change settings to block interference, no channel change required. Then, lo and behold, the illustrious AirPlay icon magically re-appeared on the macbook pro!


I am so pleased, and intend to write to Apple again to say this should be readily available on their Support site because while it took me ages to find your solution, I ran across a lot of equally disappointed Apple users making lots of negative noise on the web about this same dilemma.


Thank you so much again, and Happy New Year.

Dericka

... in the land of Oz

Jan 2, 2013 5:18 AM in response to dericka

Unfortunately whilst interference from other networks is quite a common problem, interference from other electrical equipment cannot be detected without specialist equipment. Microwaves and baby monitors are common causes of interference but I've seen interference caused by DVD players and even a fan in one case. And believe it or not, placing a device too close to the base station has been known to cause problems too.


Add to this, that each manufacturer of a router may have different or even unique settings that can cause problems. There are in fact so many variables that it is very difficult to help the average user.


I tend not to get involved in network discussions as much as I used to, it's a difficult subject to diagnose and many posters simply refuse to accept they have network issues and on occasions become quite rude when you tell them it's their network not the Apple TV.


However, I'm pleased to note that you have solved your network problem.

Airplay icon missing on MBP

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